John Wood Community College's main campus is located in Quincy, Illinois, in the heart of the midwest. Quincy is on the banks of the Mississippi River where it swings furthest to the west. It is located approximately 170 miles north of St. Louis, MO, and 105 miles west of Springfield, IL.

More than 89 percent of the students at John Wood are Illinois residents. Sixty percent are age 24 and under, while 40 percent are nontraditional students. Forty-six percent of students are attending full time, while 54 percent are attending part time. The 2002-03 student body was 37 percent male and 63 percent female. About one half of this student body received some form of financial aid.